Dan Malloy Calls Wayne LaPierre a Clown on CNN’s “State of the Union”

Connecticut’s Governor Dan Malloy appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday. He answered questions about the NRA’s threats of challenging the state’s new gun laws in court.

“Wayne reminds me of the clowns at the circus – they get the most attention. That’s what he’s paid to do,” Malloy said.

Of course he was referring to Wayne LaPierre, the lobby’s spokesman.

The new Connecticut laws, signed into action by Malloy, include the addition of more than 100 weapons to the state’s list of banned assault weapons – including the semiautomatic Bushmaster rifle, one of the firearms used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. The law also bans the sale of magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, as well as armor-piercing bullets. Buyers will need a certificate to buy ammunition.

It also requires background checks for all gun purchases. Persons currently owning high output weapons and magazines must register them. It is illegal for anyone to purchase these from another state and bring them into Connecticut.

The new regulations are not a surprise. The nation expected serious and broad legislation after the state suffered the worst gun-related massacre in the history of the United States. Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown lost 20 small children and 6 faculty when Adam Lanza forced his way into the school and released a hail of bullets from as assault rifle.

Asked who will be most affected by the new laws, Malloy said they’ll be “probably a little tougher on everybody.”

“This guy is so out of whack, it’s unbelievable,” Malloy told CNN’s chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley, referring to LaPierre.

The Governor was asked about the lobby’s plan to protect schools by arming school personnel.

“What this is about is the ability of the gun industry to sell as many guns to as many people as possible – even if they’re deranged, mentally ill, a criminal background, they don’t care. They want to sell guns,” Malloy argued.

I expected our federal government to fail the nation’s people on this issue. Re-election is more important to them than doing the right thing. Campaign contributions are their priority.

States will take action, the people demand it. Governor Malloy is correct in his every statement. And the actions taken by his legislators are both courageous and display concerns for the well-being of all of the state’s inhabitants, not merely special interest groups.

Lanza had planned his cowardly attack well. Besides the arsenal he brought into the school, he was wearing a bullet proof vest. The NRA’s “plan” did not include the armed personnel wearing protective armor.

Logic must win out in this battle. The “rights” of the few cannot trump the rights of the many to feel safe going about their daily lives.